In the classroom

This week, in Spanish class we learned all about the states of matter… in Spanish!

This video was taken by one of my students during Spanish class. His responsibility was to hold a solid (camera) and drink a liquid at the same time! Hilarious! The footage turned out pretty good -under the circumstances- and it shows a bit of the introduction to one of our experiments Coke and mentos… Explosion.

Here are some of the experiments we did:

Sólido a líquido (solid to liquid)

Ice cube painting

Jugando con sólidos y líquidos (playing with solids and liquids)

We also tested gravity!

Experimentos químicos (Chemical experiments)

We did some fun chemical experiments with Coke and Mentos.

Ours did not look this cool, but it was still super fun!

And at the end of class, we had a snack so we could taste a yummy solid and drink delicious liquids.

Since it started to get warm, I have not written any blog posts because we have been having way too much fun outside in the sun!

Summer is officially here!

During the Summer time, I like to step it up a bit and make my Spanish programs even more fun. Therefore, we tend to make things a little crazier and messier.

Here are a few of the things we have been up to:

1. Food Fight

After learning about various types of fruit, it was time to test their comprehension on the subject. A food fight was the best way to do it, don’t you think?

2. Conversational Spanish through art

We got to review colors and body parts through art… in a fun and unique way

3. Empowering Students with leadership roles

On of my students brought his RC helicopter and taught the entire class -including me- how to use it. As he explained things, I was helping him talk in Spanish. It was fascinating to watch them interact so beautifully in the foreign language!

4. Playing outside

Time to run and enjoy the sun!

Playing Zombie tag – a very popular made up game!Playing Guess Who outside was enough for these guysFun at the park. Can you believe this is how I teach Spanish? Crazy ha!

5. Exploring the world around us

After my planned lesson, we decided to go on a mini hike and explore the world.

Checking out a fallen tree with amazing roots

My first Spanish Summer Camp starts June 14th, let me know if you want your kiddos to join us in the fun!

Lemonade stands, building teepees, and water balloon fights are just a few of our fun activities! Yay!

Before stepping outside the classroom, we created a list together. We spelled all the words in Spanish (no English), in order to help children remember what they wrote about, we drew a picture next to each Spanish word.

I guided students to list things that they would expect to see it this time of the year, during Spring time. Here is a list of some of the things my students looked for:

Los flores (the flowers)

El sol (the sun)

Diferentes tipos de bichos (different types od bugs)

Un pájaro (a bird)

Un nido (a nest)

And, of course, to make it even more fun, I gave my students binoculares (binoculars) so they could find things easier and faster.

Exploring the world around us. Enjoying Spring!

2. Playing with Seeds

Seeds can be so much fun! My students were able to take a spelling test without even knowing it! All I had to do is challenge them to try to “write” with the seeds. They were so focused on the new texture and smell that they did not even know that they were being “tested.”

Playing with sunflower seeds. Created “un círculo” (a circle).

With my younger students, I also used the seeds to review shapes (see above image).

3. Learning About Plants: From Seeds To Plants

We also discussed how plants grow. Each step was explained in Spanish, then we drew and labeled it all together.

Learning about the parts of a flower in Spanish.Adding our own artistic touches to our creations.

4. Playing games!

I made a game all about Spring. See image below.

Las flores y los maceteros (the flowers and the flower pots)

Flowers come in various colors. The flower pots have different numbers on them Please note that I made them all the way up to 100 so that I can challenge my older & more advanced students too.

Children playing the flower pot game.

I use two giant die to make this activity even more fun! Children had to roll the dice to see how many flowers they had to place in a flower pot. They loved it!

Las abejas nos visitaron! (Bees visited us).

At the very end of this activity, I gave children a beehive full of bees, the got to play with them while I tested them on comprehension skills by asking them where to place the various bugs I shared with my students.

NOTE: To create your own flower pots and flowers, you only need:

toilet paper rolls

brown paint

construction paper

pop-sickle sticks

pipe cleaners

5. Going outside!

After being stuck indoors all Winter, we have taken every possible opportunity to be outside. We are playing games like tag, duck duck goose, and volleyball in Spanish.

No picture for this sections because I am usually too busy playing with my students. Sorry, but I cannot missed out on any fun! Hehehe.

What are you doing in your Spanish classroom? Any Spring activities you would like to share?

Summer time is usually a time where children enjoy the freedom of having no school responsibilities and all they want to do is to live the moment.

Some of the most wonderful memories I have as a child are from my Summer breaks. I remember staying up late at night with my girlfriends, attending amazing art programs, and exploring the world with messy outdoor activities.

My personal goal this summer is to offer a super fun Spanish summer program that your child will love! A Summer program that will create memories that will last until adulthood and provide activities that are not only fun, but also will benefit your children for a lifetime!

❝One language sets you in a corridor for life. Two languages open every door along the way.❞ ‒ Frank Smith

1. Indoor and outdoor Activities That Will Reinforce The Foreign Language Acquisition

Did you know that by having a water balloon fight your child can be introduced, review, or reinforce various foreign language concepts including verb conjugations and nouns?

Did you know that by making a piñata from scratch your child can learn about various cultures (not limiting ourselves to hispanic cultures), while being fully immersed in the Spanish language?

“Teach in the language, not about the language.” – Suzanna Jemsby

This Summer at Lingua Garden, children will be provided with the perfect combination of indoor and outdoor activities where they will be able to have a good time while learning Spanish effortlessly!

2. Learn Spanish at Their Own Pace Without Even Knowing

Lingua Garden provides all participants with age appropriate activities and a variety of fun learning environments. Classes are kept small so that there is plenty of one-on-one interaction between the teacher and the students.

Ms. Denise does not miss our on any of the fun either!

I, Denise Leitch -owner and Spanish teacher,- have a unique teaching style where I challenge myself to never loose my student’s interest. I provide children with just enough guidance and information so that their passion to want to learn more is what keep them going. I just motivate them and provide them with the tools they need.

Summer participants will have such a blast and they will learn the foreign language without even realizing it!

3. Language and Culture

❝Language is the road map of a culture. It tells you where its people come from and where they are going.❞ ‒ Rita Mae Brown

Children are curious and always wanting to learn more about the world. It is part of our human nature!

Through snacks, art projects, and other activities, Summer participants will be exposed to the Spanish language and various other cultures.

4. Full Immersion Lessons With a Native Speaker

Spanish is my first tongue, therefore all instruction is done by me, a native speaker using the full immersion approach. To read more about me and my teaching style, click here.

Ms. Denise is from Chile, South America

5. Full of Energy, Full of Fun, Full of Passion

As the owner and lead educator of Lingua Garden, I offer a unique Spanish program for children in Central Illinois. Through a variety of indoor and outdoor activities, your child will be immerse in the foreign language and making memories that will last for a lifetime.

My energy and passion for teaching is what makes my programs unique and full of hands-on activities.

Your child is warrantied to be exposed to the best foreign language instruction in Central Illinois.

This past Winter was very cold and long in Central Illinois, but believe it or not Summer is finally just around the corner and it will be here before you know it.

Are you starting to plan your child’s Summer 2014 schedule yet?

I know I am.

Summer 2014, Viña Del Mar, Chile

As a parent, I know that I want my children to enjoy their Summer break, therefore, all the activities they will be participating in will be pure fun.

Have you ever considered a Summer program for your child that is not only fun, but also educational and it will benefit him for a lifetime?

JOIN LINGUA GARDEN’s SPANISH SUMMER PROGRAMS TODAY

Lingua Garden is offering a Spanish Summer 2014 program that is new and unique where children will be exposed to culture and language while enjoying every minute.

They won’t even know they are learning!

Water balloon fight in Spanish class

Through a variety of age appropriate activities such as water balloon fights, relay races, and messy art projects your child will be exposed to the foreign language in an effective and entertaining way.

Relay races in Spanish class

The learning process will be natural and exciting!

Messy art experiments in Spanish class

Children will be able to participate and learn at their own pace.

Snack time in Spanish class

And they will be able to slow down, relax, and enjoy the moment, all while being immerse in the foreign language.

Locations

Lingua Garden’s Spanish Summer Programs will be offered in many locations in Central Illinois.

This winter has been pretty rough and long, but before all the snow and cold weather goes away, my students and I decided to stop complaining about the low temperatures, amount of snow, and being stuck inside. Our thought was “if you cannot bit it, join it.”

Conclusion: Have some ‘Winter Fun’ in our Spanish classes.

Who knew you could learn and review so many verb conjugations, articles, and winter vocabulary (among other things) while having so much fun!?!

We got to eat snowflakes…

…paint snow…

…sled and snowboard…

…make colorful paper snowflakes…

…and ended by having a rainbow snowball fight with my awesome students.

I am so thankful for all the families I get to work with. It is an honor to teach such wonderful children! As you can see, we have a lot of fun learning together.

Here is some of the vocabulary we focused on during the last few weeks:

After Halloween, many of us end up with way too much candy just laying around our homes. This year, feeling overwhelmed by the amount of sweets we had, I was inspired to create a new and exciting lesson all about candy.

So, we got to learn about piñatas and how to make them. Fun!

Making a piñata in my Spanish classroom.

The best part?

Well, there are many really but to me, the best part is that after learning about the history of piñatas, playing games with candy, and making a piñata from scratch, my students donated their beautiful sweet creations to the children at Easter Seals.

In the classroom, my students and I have had a ton of fun learning together about el Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead). Children were surprised when I told them that we were learning together about this holiday and its traditions.

Why?

Decorating ‘calaveras’ (skulls), one of our many classroom activities

I had to remind my students that I am from Latin America and I am a Spanish teacher in the United States, but I grew up in Chile where we celebrate el Día de los Inocentes (Day of the Innocents) not Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead). Both holidays are celebrated very differently depending on the country and its cultural ancestry.